Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I have a male Lewisi hybrid that never seems to increase in weight. He is not an aggressive feeder but I think the problem may be due to internal parasites. I am going to have a fecal exam done on him this week. I want to know what type of treatment some of you have placed your cycluras on.

Thanks,

Manny

There is an excellent booklet called "Understanding Reptile Parasites" by Roger J. Klingenberg. The book was printed by the AFH (American Federation of Herptoculterists). At one time I routinely wormed in the fall with Panacur paste. It is primarily for nematodes, but can also have some effect on tape worms(cestodes). The common dosage of Panacur's active ingredient Fenbendazole was 25mg/kg of reptile. It is easily fed in a hollowed out fig to cyclura. I have never had problems using it, and it is considered a drug of choice for nematodes. Others have observed temporary weight loss in their cyclura after using it. Good luck.

Thanks for the info. I've used Panacure before with other reptiles and it did work fine. Do you treat your iguanas on a yearly basis?

I learned about it from another cyclura owner who did it annually, I use to do it every other year. Due to family issues, I am now iguanaless.

doesn't regular use of panacur run the risk of making the drug ineffective over time? I have heard this, the advice being use it when you know you have parasites, but not habitually "just in case." Is this not true?